January 25 – Kung-Fu Cantona
Everybody was kung-fu fighting, Those cats were fast as lightning, In fact it was a little bit frightening, But they fought with expert timing. Perhaps Eric Cantona had heard the Carl Douglas hit on the radio as he ate his porridge that morning. Or perhaps it had been playing on the team bus on the way down the motorway.
Perhaps he had never heard it. Either way, it was on this day in 1995 that the French-collar-turner-upper assaulted a Crystal Palace fan with a kung fu kick during Man United’s tie with the London club.
Cantona had just been sent off and was making his way from the field of play when he launched himself into the crowd, kicking Palace fan Matthew Simmons, who Cantona claimed had been racially abusing him.
After kicking and punching Mr Simmons, police, stewards and other fans pulled him off, while Cantona’s fellow United teammate Paul Ince also got in on the action.
Cantona was banned from playing for nine months, and fined £20,000 for the attack. He was also stripped of the captaincy of the French national side, and was initially sentenced to two weeks in prison, which was then reduced to 120 hours community service.
At a press conference called for Cantona to explain his actions, he refused to answer any questions and simply said: “when the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.” Bonkers.
The press conference and Cantona’s cryptic statement caused almost as much media stir as the kung fu kick itself. Speculation raged as to the meaning of the quote, with some believing it was a reference to a little known French philosopher, others thinking Cantona himself might be a deep thinker. Turned out he was just being deliberately obtuse.
Have a look at his mysterious outpourings below and come back for tomorrow for more from football’s past.
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